Past events

Plants detect invading pathogens using immune receptors that are located both inside the cell and at its surface. Structural and biochemical studies have transformed our understanding of how intracellular immune receptors recognise effector proteins secreted by pathogens. But far less is known about how plant cell-surface receptors recognise effectors in the apoplast – the space outside the plant cell where many fungal pathogens colonise their hosts.

Attempts to develop abiotic, self-sustaining, evolving molecular systems in the lab tend to produce tarry, dead-end messes rather than macromolecular products with potential for biostructure and function. This is the infamous ‘tar paradox’. Nevertheless, primordial life somehow emerged despite that presumed handicap.

The photosynthetic bacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 is a widely used model organism for studying bacterial photosynthesis and has considerable biotechnological potential.

As drought events become increasingly frequent and severe, improving crop drought resistance is a major challenge for global agricultural production. However, the translation of crop drought research from laboratory discovery to field application has been persistently constrained by a disconnect between controlled-environment drought treatments and field-based drought conditions.

C4 photosynthesis is a highly efficient carbon assimilation pathway that contributes to the high productivity of major crops such as maize, sorghum, and sugarcane. Understanding the genetic mechanisms regulating C4 photosynthesis and leaf senescence is important for improving photosynthetic efficiency and crop productivity.

RSB Director's Seminar featuring Professor Alison Rodger, Director of the Research School of Chemistry at ANU, Group Leader in the Division of Biological Chemistry, Research School of Chemistry, ANU.

The genotype-to-phenotype architecture (GPA), defined by complex interactions such as pleiotropy, epistasis, and regulatory control together with all the plasticity associated to these processes are fundamental yet often overlooked drivers of biodiversity dynamics.

This seminar is supported by the Centre for Biodiversity Analysis.

This seminar will outline a predictive modelling research theme and highlight recent examples integrating physiology, phenotyping and genetics to evaluate potential interventions and guide crop adaptation.

Using poecilid fishes as models, this talk will outline long term research investigating the impacts of pharmaceutical pollution on the behaviour of exposed organisms and their weighty ecological and evolutionary consequences